NEWENTRY - Whistles and the vote

Nach Baliye 2 Star One Monday, 8.30 pm T he show: Ten celebrity jodis, one action-packed show and judged by veteran chore ographer Saroj Khan, Malaika Arora Khan and director Kunal Kohli, Nach Baliye 2 returns. Newness quotient: Kunal Kohli, who replaces Farhan Akhtar on the judges' panel. The voting-out pattern and the hosts who've participated in Nach Baliye Season 1. Vote-out twist: A lifeline has been given to the couple on the verge of being elimi nated by contestants already in the safe zone. The couples complete their dance performances and get the scores from the judges. Then they get into the safe zone based on the votes they have got from the jury and the audience. The fate of the two lowest scoring couples is then decided by the remaining jodis, who have to cast a silent vote for the couple who they think should go. In case of a tie, the decision rests with the jury. Interesting! Voted out so far: Ketki and Rasik Dave and Narayani Shastri and Gaurav Chopra. The show also scores with its hosts, and last season's winners Supriya and Sachin Pilgaonkar having hosted the first segment. The host line up: Apart from Shabbir Ahluwalia and Sangita Ghosh who are yet to host the new season, last year's couples Manasi and Rohit Roy and Maaninee and Mihir Mishra have hosted so far. Now what? The remaining jodis: Tina and Hussain Kuwajerwala, Tanaaz and Bakhtyaar Irani, Gouri and Yash Tonk, Shweta and Manav Gohil, Gauri and Hiten Tejwani, Shweta and Raja Chaud hary, Gurdip Kohli and Arjun Punjj, Keerti and Sharad Kelkar will battle it out. Gauri and Hiten score as the perfect couple (despite being four left feet) as do Yash and Gauri (who are improving with every episode) and Tina (who's matching up with Hussain). But the ones that stand out are Tanaaz and Bakhtyaar and Shweta and Raja. While the former couple is high on energy and perfection and has the edge of Bakhtyaar's expertise as choreographer, the latter makes up with sheer determination and hard work. One look at Raja and you know he is not a natural. But with Shweta by his side, the couple is definitely tough competition and cannot be ignored. No wonder these two got the famous Saroj Khan whistle and Rs 101 to ken money.

Our whistles go out to: The show's freshness de spite having Sony's Jhalak Dikhlla Jaa as a worthy opponent. The judges seem more tuned into dances vis-a-vis Jhalak where only Farah Khan seems to know any thing about dancing. Malaika is charming as ever and Kunal, a welcome change. Saroj Khan rocks. The new format spices up the proceedings and our full vote to Nach Baliye 2's 'couch-potato' value.